The Grandfather Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band was founded in 1974 by Agnes MacRae Morton and Harvey E. Ritch. (Harvey had previously founded the Charlotte Scottish Pipe Band, a prize winning grade ll band with a World Champion drum corps  see below) This new Grandfather group consisted of young, but very dedicated, players. Within two years, they earned the title of Southern Champions by winning at the Stone Mountain Highland Games. Since then, the band has won this title many times and they are the current Southern Pipe Band Champions. Recently, the band placed 2nd at the 2003 North American Pipe Band Championships in Maxville, Ontario.

Harvey Ritch was the band's first Pipe Major and served in this capacity until 1981. Ken Swinton served as Pipe Major from 1981 until 1983, and led the band to a victory at Stone Mountain. Ed Krintz then became Pipe Major and took the band to a new level. In 1985, the band won nearly every contest they played and was upgraded to Grade II in 1986. Bill Caudill then assumed Pipe Major duties as Ed was relocated for his job. After two successful seasons, Ed resumed the leadership role until the Grade IV and Grade III bands merged in 1994. Scott McLeod then became Pipe Major and led the band successfully from Grade IV back to Grade III. Gordon Warburton became Pipe Major in 1996 and currently holds the position.

Harvey Edward Ritch, 86, of Linville, and formerly of Charlotte, died Sunday, June 8, 2014, of natural causes.

Harvey was born in Charlotte to Ruby Ritch and Paul Ritch. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Harvey Edward Ritch Jr., and is survived by his former wife, Nancy Ritch, his three living sons, David Randall Ritch, Joseph Livingston Ritch and Robert Scott Ritch, his sister, Jean Christ, his brother Paul Ritch Jr., and seven grandchildren.

The funeral for family and close friends is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014. Harvey was well known in the Scottish Community for his work with many bagpipe bands and as the owner of Everything Scottish. A public ceremony will be held Sunday, July 13, 2014, at the church service at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

June 9, 2014. Harvey Ritch, longtime owner of Everything Scottish in Linville, passed away at 5:45 a.m. Sunday, June 8, in Newland at age 85. Ritchs shop, one of the nations first Scottish import shops and a landmark of High Country Scottish culture, closed last February after a remarkable 43 years in business.

Ritch and his shop were more than just part of the local business community. Called the High Countrys Pipe Major, Ritch has founded a number of pipe bands, trained dozens of award-winning pipers, and played a major role in the growth of Scottish culture in the High Country, the South, and the nation. In 1973, Ritch accepted the invitation of Highland Games co-founder Agnes MacRae Morton, and her son Julian, to open Everything Scottish in the stone tower that still dominates the Invershiel intersection at the corner of NC 105 and 184.

Ritch founded the award-winning Grandfather Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band. Those affiliated with the band have called Ritch, the forefather of piping in the South.

In many ways, the number of pipe bands seen today in the region, and the quality of play, can be traced back to Ritch. His personal tutoring of students, and even financial support for formal training programs has benefited many pipe bands and players and fledgling highland games as well.

He left a desire for his ashes to be scattered atop MacRae Meadows track during the Highland Games  so when they march on the track they will get dust in their eyes ... they will rub their eyes and say, 'Damn you, Harvey!'